Man gets 7 years for fatal shooting in SW Colorado

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DURANGO, Colo. (AP) - A southwestern Colorado man who pleaded guilty in a fatal shooting on the Ute Mountain Ute Indian reservation has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison.

The Durango Herald reports (http://bit.ly/11x91nG ) Clarence M. Lehi of Towaoc was sentenced Friday for the Nov. 5, 2011, death of 22-year-old Winslow Big Soldier. Lehi struck a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty in August to voluntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Lehi says the gun went off as Big Soldier came at him in a threatening manner. The assault charge was filed because an 11-year-old boy was hit by a ricocheting bullet during the altercation at Lehi's home.

Several other charges, including first-degree murder, were dropped as part of the plea deal.